Attorney Stephen Skinner outlines how lawsuits filed by smaller municipalities against pharmaceutical companies will play out in court.

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Wed, 06 Dec 2017 18:01:28 +0000I&I: Lawsuits against Pharmaceutical Companies (Part 2)Attorney Stephen Skinner outlines how lawsuits filed by smaller municipalities against pharmaceutical companies will play out in court.http://chic.clipsyndicate.com/video/playlist/12493/7202114?cpt=8&wpid=2637WHAG>> welcome back we are chatting with attorney, stephen skinner. a recent lawsuit filed on behalf of berkeley and jefferson county against pharmaceutical companies. this with the opioid epidemic. the federal court in st. louis, what are the next steps?what logically will happen? >> they will hear arguments and whether counties and municipalities have the right to see the drug companies. that will probably be fought out in the next six months or year. we will also see the beginning of discovery. and what that means is we get to ask about the documents that they have. their internal memos. what they actually did jibron get hopeless doctors. will also take a look at the they knowingly supplied, he3 knowingly supplied these two retailers. these will take a long time, there will be tens of millions of documents that will need to be processed. it will go on for quite a while. one of the other things is we are continuing to talk to government organizations, we will see more filings happen, over the next couple of years. we will find out where the hotspots are around and tried to see that they get justice as well. >> obviously that can take a long time. ultimately if they are to rule in favor of what you're seeking, what will that mean? what were the counties get and how will that benefit them? >> the plan would be for the problem to stop. if we can figure out a way to and the epidemic so that we are not creating new addicts that they bring in the system. that is number one it will part of an educational program. one is that we, the pharmaceutical companies repay for all the law enforcement, court costs, everything they have done and also, we can rehabilitate the people who have been caught up in this. we certainly have seen in berkeley county and jefferson county, innovative ways to deal with folks been caught up. but the taxpayers of frankfurt. we want to pay back the taxpayers for what they have had to front for the cost of the epidemic. >> so in this suit then are you seeking a dollar amount against the drug companies? >> not a specific dollar amount. will the company did not open year. we have to look at all of the impacts from, did you have to hire an extra employee in the prosecutors office just to deal with the opioid epidemic claimant the jail class. had to bring all that down. i know in west virginia divisional gel cost for jefferson and berkeley cancers have been widely for the last decade. we'll pull all that apart. and of course, once a measure of justice so we know the pharmaceutical companies don't do this again. the only way to get the giant company sourcing is by making them pay money. >> interesting approach. and it sounds like you have a greater weight now that the courts have made a ruling here because i think affairs while the court ruling. but this is day one. yeah. stephen skinner. in the eastern panhandle, we appreciate your dedication to this.and so, we hope you keep us apprised. on the movement on this. >> absolutely, thank you for having me. >> coming up, medical marijuana finally gets the green light